Biography
Dusty Stray is the moniker of American musician, songwriter and singer, Jonathan Brown, who was born in Taiwan, and raised in Texas, before moving to Amsterdam, Netherlands, as an expat. He has been based there for years. Dusty Stray features Brown's alt-folk repertoire. He delves into universal themes of heartbreak, loneliness and death with a twisted sense of humor and a soothing touch.
Albums: Tales of Misfortune and Woe (2010), Light Years Away (2011), Family Album (2013), A Tree Fell and Other Songs (2015), Estranged (2018) and, his December 2023 release, Fire Place.
So, Jonathan Brown was born in Taiwan. Raised in Texas, the son of a preacher man. Raised on songs about death and resurrection. Went to college. Discovered vast archive of early American folk music from the 20s and 30s. Began writing his own songs. Moved to Austin where he first performed his music. Traveled with guitar through Central America where he met a Belgian woman and followed her to Europe. Met a Spanish woman. Moved to Barcelona. Formed a bluegrass band, a psychedelic rock band and a freak folk band. Met a Dutch woman. Moved to the Netherlands where he remains today. All of his albums were made and released there.
Brown’s many influences include Harry Smith (Anthology Of American Folk Music), writer/illustrator Edward Gorey, The Handsome Family, Bill Callahan, Bonnie Prince Billy, Leonard Cohen, Neil Young, Gillian Welch, The Velvet Underground, Pavement and The Flaming Lips. When not on stage, he can be found in junk shops and flea markets searching for discarded 8mm home movies and diverse materials for his artwork which in turn serves as inspiration for the music of Dusty Stray.
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